Missouri's oldest distillery is crossing into the pet treat category. Holladay Distillery, founded in 1856 and still operating from its original Weston, Missouri location, has launched Bourbones, a line of all-natural, bacon-flavored dog treats inspired by the grains used to produce Holladay Bourbon. The treats contain zero alcohol and are manufactured in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Product Angle
Bourbones are bite-sized, barrel-packaged treats positioned as an occasional reward — suitable for training, travel, or simply spoiling a well-behaved dog. The grain connection to Holladay's original mash bill is purely thematic; the treats are formulated for canine consumption, not human. The barrel-shaped packaging echoes the distillery's 170-year heritage and is designed to appeal to bourbon enthusiasts who also happen to be dog owners — a segment that craft spirits brands have increasingly identified as a loyal, lifestyle-driven consumer base.
"Our fans love their bourbon, and they love their dogs," said Stephanie Taylor, Sales & Marketing Manager at Holladay Distillery. "Bourbones brings those two things together in a way that feels natural to our brand, with the added bonus of giving back to animals in need."
Charity Built Into the Model
The philanthropic component distinguishes Bourbones from a straightforward brand extension. One dollar from every barrel of treats sold is directed to organizations supporting animals in need, with Kansas City nonprofit Wayside Waifs named as the 2026 charity spotlight. Wayside Waifs serves thousands of animals and families across the Kansas City metro area. Embedding a per-unit donation into the retail model — rather than a one-time partnership — gives the program ongoing visibility and ties repeat purchases to measurable community impact.
For operators in the hospitality and beverage retail space, the Bourbones launch reflects a broader pattern among craft distilleries: leveraging brand loyalty beyond the bottle. Distilleries and breweries have experimented with branded merchandise, food pairings, and experiential retail for years, but pet products represent a relatively underexplored adjacency. The $100-billion-plus U.S. pet industry and the continued premiumization of pet food and treats make it a logical destination for heritage brands with emotionally resonant stories to tell.
Holladay Distillery, which celebrates its 170th anniversary in 2026, is well-positioned to trade on that heritage. Its bourbon is produced using the original mash bill and aged onsite in iron-clad rickhouses — details that resonate with the provenance-conscious consumers who now populate both the craft spirits and premium pet product markets. The Bourbones launch channels that same authenticity narrative into a new category without diluting the core brand.
For bar managers, gift shop buyers, and distillery tasting room operators looking to diversify retail revenue, branded pet products offer a high-margin, low-regulatory-burden SKU with strong gifting appeal — a consideration worth watching as restaurant and hospitality retailers continue to expand non-food ancillary revenue streams.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
